Group of entrepreneurs and pensioners responded to Nikšić: We will sue you - we are neither chicken farmers nor are we paid!

(Patria) - Following the appearance of the Prime Minister of the Federation, Nermin Nikšić, on Face TV, where he belittled his discussion partners regarding non-working Sundays and the minimum wage, a group of entrepreneurs, businesswomen, pensioners, and retired women of the FBiH reacted in a statement from the SME Association.

The statement reads - On April 4, 2025, in the show on FACE TV and in a conversation with the show's host Senad Hadžifejzović, the Prime Minister of the FBiH, Nermin Nikšić, stated, we quote: ‘’SH: Do you promise to sit down with people? NN: - What? Which ones? What kind of? I don't promise, don't ask me that, it doesn't cross my mind, man. So, give me who... I want to talk to everyone relevant, not with those chicken farmers, it doesn't cross my mind... SH: Who is relevant to you? NN: - Well, relevant people, who know what they are talking about, leave me these guys, man, who carry, whom SDA gave 50
marks to carry these banners. SH: - Can it be tomorrow? NN: - With whom? SH: - With whom? NN: - Well, no, here, bring that one... Nenadić, Čengić, Smailbegović, whoever you want, from employers. SH: - Why are you only negotiating with big companies? You negotiate with people who represent 90% of our trade, production, and
industry. NN: - So, Senade, that's... uh... I don't want to say with whom... SH: - Why are you making a selection between big and small? NN: - Tell me when Fadil Novalić came to your show?".

"Given that we are among the participants of the protests against the Decree of the Government of the FBiH on the minimum wage, held in January 2025 in front of the Government of the FBiH and on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in front of the Parliament of the FBiH, we feel offended and slandered by Prime Minister Nikšić's statements. Offended because, although the basic meaning of the word ‘chicken farmer’ clearly denotes a person who raises chickens and therefore has nothing negative about it, its connotative meaning is offensive and belittling because, according to the dictionary, it denotes a chicken thief, a petty thief, but also someone who works on a small scale, does not engage in big business, and does not have large earnings", the statement says.

They state: "This, therefore, refers to about 50,000 small and medium-sized enterprises and crafts. Furthermore, Nermin Nikšić made the statement not as a private individual, but in his capacity as Prime Minister of the Government of the FBiH, who should treat all citizens of the FBiH with full respect and consideration.
Prime Minister Nikšić's arrogant behavior and primitive expression are shameful".

"We have been slandered because it is a complete lie that anyone, including the SDA, paid us to come to the protests and 'carry banners'. Many of us have never been and will never be members of any political party, and our reasons for coming to the protests are exclusively economic and have no political connotation. It is important to note that some of us are also members of the Employers' Association of the FBiH, so the Prime Minister should consider us 'relevant'. Given that the Prime Minister of the FBiH made this statement, we demand a public apology from the Prime Minister and the Government of the FBiH.
We will certainly initiate a lawsuit for slander regarding receiving money", the statement concluded.